Dolls (1987 film)
A horror fairy tale where dolls judge the wicked.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Dolls is a 1987 American horror film directed by Stuart Gordon, written by Ed Naha, and produced by Charles Band and Brian Yuzna through Band's Empire Pictures. The film follows six people who seek shelter during a storm in the mansion of an elderly doll maker and his wife, only to discover that the various puppets and dolls in the home contain the imprisoned spirits of criminals. Shot in Italy at Empire Studios prior to the making of Gordon's From Beyond (1986), it went unreleased until 1987, when it premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival.
- Release year
- 1987
- Director
- Stuart Gordon
- Writer
- Ed Naha
- Producers
- Charles Band, Brian Yuzna
- Production company
- Empire Pictures
- Genre
- Horror
- Runtime
- Not specified in source
Lore & Background
The film's plot centers on young Judy, her father David, and her stepmother Rosemary, who break into a mansion during a thunderstorm. They meet the owners, Gabriel and Hilary Hartwicke, who give Judy a doll named Mr. Punch. Three more people arrive: Ralph, Isabel, and Enid. The dolls attack Isabel and Enid, who are revealed as thieves, and later kill Rosemary. David refuses to believe Judy's warnings, but Ralph eventually helps her. The Hartwickes explain they are magicians who use dolls to test visitors; those who appreciate childhood are spared, while others are transformed into dolls. David is turned into a doll to replace Mr. Punch. The next morning, the Hartwickes convince Ralph and Judy the events were a dream, and Judy leaves with Ralph.
Reader's Guide
Dolls received mixed reviews, with a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 55. Critics like Michael H. Price praised its mix of whimsy and jolts, while Roger Ebert gave it two out of four stars, finding dolls not frightening. The film is noted for its extensive use of stop motion animation by David W. Allen. It has been considered a spiritual successor to the Puppet Master series, which features actor Guy Rolfe as the puppets' creator. A sequel was planned but never produced. The film's legacy includes cameo appearances by Mr. Punch in later Puppet Master films and a Demonic Toys spin-off.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot in Italy at Empire Studios before From Beyond (1986) but released after it.
- Director Stuart Gordon was inspired by the book The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim.
- The doll Mr. Punch appears as an alternate skin for Jester in Puppet Master: The Game.
- A sequel was planned but never entered production.
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